Ratha Yatra, also known as Festival of Chariots, has become an annual event in Lenasia and this will be its 16th anniversary.
Ratha Yatra is a celebration of the occasion when Sri Krishna (Lord Jagannatha) attended a religious function in Kuruksetra some 5 000 years ago, travelling from Dwarka in a big chariot along with Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama.
The Gopis from Vrindavan also assembled at Kuruksetra and seeing their beloved Lord after such a long time could not bear to be separated from Him again. Therefore the Gopis took hold of the chariot ropes and began pulling Lord Krishna, Baladev and Subhadradevi back to Vrindavan.
The Lord upon seeing His devotees love and devotion for Him becomes ecstatic and therefore His form changes to exhibit the ecstatic symptoms of big eyes, withdrawn hands and feet.
When Lord Caitanya was present 500 years ago He took part in the Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha, exhibiting symptoms of the mode of separation, as if Srimati Radharani was taking Lord Krishna back to Vrindavana. He danced, sang and pulled the cart of the Lord, teaching us how to feel separation of God. Lord Caitanya never taught us that He had seen God, but He felt the separation of God very severely. So this Ratha Yatra festival is a feeling festival for the devotees.
In remembrance of that event, the chariot festival takes place in Jagannath Puri every year, and millions of people go there to participate. Today, Ratha Yatra festivals are performed at ISKCON temples around the world, and they are one of the key festivals taught to us by our dear Founder Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada described how in this age people are reluctant to go to the temple, mosques or churches to worship God therefore, out of the Lords causeless mercy, God comes out to the people.
ISKCON Lenasia in great excitement is once again hosting this festival for the people of Lenasia on December 7 and 8. The chariot parade will take place in the cooling evening on Saturday at 17:00.
The festival site is at the Lenasia Soccer Stadium where there will be lots of cultural entertainment, food stalls (including a free food distribution stand), gift stalls and much more. International artists will be performing plays and giving enlightening talks.
This festival is open to everyone and is free of charge. Please come and attend this beautiful festival. Hare Krishna!
